THE
EXPERIENCE
The California Cannabis Experience is a 17-day immersive destination at the California State Fair where education, celebration, and exploration come together. Guests are invited to discover award-winning brands, engage with expert speakers, and deepen their understanding of cannabis through thoughtfully curated programming. The Experience features on-site sales and designated consumption areas for adults 21+, a vibrant vendor marketplace, and exclusive activations that bring the culture of California cannabis to life. It’s more than an exhibit—it’s where community, innovation, and experience converge.
Step Into The
California Cannabis
Experience
Everyone loves a good transformation story—and the 2025 California Cannabis Experience delivered. What began as a forgotten water park at Cal Expo became a fully realized cannabis destination inside the California State Fair.
Guests entered through a grand walkway tracing the history and science of cannabis. Old concessions transformed into Jeeter’s Mile High Club, Sparky’s Official Merchandise HQ, and terpene-infused slushie bars. Weathered stages became the Winners’ Circle, honoring the farmers and makers raising the bar. A former waterslide made way for a 12,000-square-foot brand pavilion, while the Craft Stage came alive with DJs, live bands, panels, and the Golden Bear Awards Show—bringing together over 800 guests for an unforgettable night.
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Step Into The
California Cannabis Experience
Everyone loves a good transformation story—and the 2025 California Cannabis Experience delivered. What began as a forgotten water park at Cal Expo became a fully realized cannabis destination inside the California State Fair.
Guests entered through a grand walkway
Guests entered through a grand walkway tracing the history and science of cannabis. Old concessions transformed into Jeeter’s Mile High Club, Sparky’s Official Merchandise HQ, and terpene-infused slushie bars. Weathered stages became the Winners’ Circle, honoring the farmers and makers raising the bar. A former waterslide made way for a 12,000-square-foot brand pavilion, while the Craft Stage came alive with DJs, live bands, panels, and the Golden Bear Awards Show—bringing together over 800 guests for an unforgettable night.
Even abandoned buildings found new purpose. Embarc turned a building once ruled by wasps, geese, and squirrels into one of the finest cannabis shops you’ll find anywhere.
Under twinkling lights and cooling mist, the community gathered, connected, and celebrated. This wasn’t just a fair—it was proof of what’s possible when the cannabis industry comes together.
WATCH VIDEO: Making the Impossible Possible
Join Us!
Become A Sponsor Or Exhibitor.
EDUCATE
Cannabis is a magnificent and wondrous plant, with an equally mysterious and often maligned story. Take a deep dive into the plant itself, its rich history and the cultural significance of California’s cannabis industry.
CELEBRATE
EXPLORE
Cannabis is a magnificent and wondrous plant, with an equally mysterious and often maligned story. Take a deep dive into the plant itself, its rich history and the cultural significance of California’s cannabis industry.
California cannabis embodies craft, care and community – a legacy that deserves recognition. Celebrate the state’s best cultivators and brands as part of the 4th annual California Cannabis Awards. Hundreds of operators earned gold, silver and bronze medals as they compete for the most prestigious agricultural award in the state: the California State Fair Golden Bear.
After unearthing the roots of the cannabis movement and time traveling through generations to arrive at this moment, immerse yourself in a fully sensory experience by exploring cannabis through onsite sales and consumption. Head down the stairs and to the dispensary to procure the best cannabis this state has to offer before tasting it in the adjacent consumption area.
Cannabis is a magnificent and wondrous plant, with an equally mysterious and often maligned story. Take a deep dive into the plant itself, its rich history and the cultural significance of California’s cannabis industry.
California cannabis embodies craft, care and community – a legacy that deserves recognition. Celebrate the state’s best cultivators and brands as part of the 4th annual California Cannabis Awards. Hundreds of operators earned gold, silver and bronze medals as they compete for the most prestigious agricultural award in the state: the California State Fair Golden Bear.
After unearthing the roots of the cannabis movement and time traveling through generations to arrive at this moment, immerse yourself in a fully sensory experience by exploring cannabis through onsite sales and consumption. Head down the stairs and to the dispensary to procure the best cannabis this state has to offer before tasting it in the adjacent consumption area.
A Place to Relax,
Connect,
and Enjoy
ENDORSED BV EXCELLENCE
FAQs
“Since welcoming cannabis to the Fair, we’ve witnessed firsthand the pride and dedication of California’s cannabis cultivators, who are crafting some of the best products, not just in the state, but in the entire industry.”
TOM MARTINEZ
CEO OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE FAIR
You must be 21 or older to access the cannabis experience, including the exhibit, sales area, and/or consumption area. All attendees over the age of 21 must present a valid photo identification. Under California law, acceptable forms of ID include a government-issued photo ID card, such as a driver’s license, a military photo ID card, or a passport.
No – pursuant to regulations, only those over the age of 21 are able to access the cannabis area and or purchase and consume cannabis at the event.
No outside cannabis will be permitted to enter the Fair, and no cannabis consumption will be permitted outside of the designated area. All cannabis purchased in the licensed area and not consumed in the consumption area must leave the cannabis area in a tamper-proof container. Should you wish to consume later in the same day, you may return to the consumption area to access and consume the cannabis you purchased onsite.
You are welcome to purchase cannabis in the licensed sales area and save it to consume off-site. Prior to exiting the cannabis area, all cannabis must be sealed in a tamper-evident manner by event staff. You are prohibited from opening and consuming cannabis onsite the Fairgrounds outside of the designated area. This policy will be strictly enforced and could result in expulsion.
ATMs are available throughout the Fairgrounds.
Cannabis Exhibit and Consumption Areas open Monday-Thursday 4:00 pm-10:00 pm and Friday-Sunday 10:00 am-10:00 pm. On-site cannabis sales cease at 9:00 pm every day.
You can find specifics on the cannabis competition here, and immerse yourself in details about the competition and winners here.
Cannabis ticks all the boxes for inclusion as a coveted Awards competition. Cannabis became legal for recreational adult use after a voter-approved initiative in 2016. California’s cannabis industry is highly regulated, culturally significant, part of our agricultural legacy, and essential to the California economy.
Pursuant to State regulations, absolutely no alcohol is allowed inside the cannabis experience (exhibit, sales area, consumption area. You will be required to finish your alcoholic beverage or throw it away prior to entering the cannabis area.
We will have many of the California Cannabis Competition Award-winning products available for sale, along with products from nearly a hundred of the State’s favorite brands. The website will be updated to include a link to the menu during the Fair.
California law allows you to purchase up to 28 grams of non-concentrated cannabis (flower) and 8 grams of concentrated cannabis.